Lens for automobile-headlights.



E. W. NEWTON. LENS FOR AUTOMOBILE HEABUGHTS.

APPLICA'HDH FiLED OCT. V2, IBIS. 1,263,696.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918 2 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

mvs/vmp 571?; W/VfW/W/k "room's E. W. NEWYON.

LENS FOR AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHTS.

APPLICA'HON FliElJ OCT. l2. I916. Patented Apr. 23'

2 SHEETS-SHE 2.

W W W I mm: ran 042 W/Vm/m/u the fire polishing UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL WILLIAM NEWTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LENS FOR AUTOMOBILE-HEADLIGHTS.

Application filed October 12, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EA'iL W. NEWTON, a I

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lenses for Antonio bile-Headlights, of which the following is a specification.

1; T present invention relates generally to a lens, and more particularly to a lens adapted to automohde headlights, my object being to provide a highly polished pressed glass lens, the construction of which permits of an efl'ective light diffusion, and especially of economical manufacture of fire-polished were of this nature.

It is well known that in the manufacture of the usual lens for which purpose it is necessary that the article be highl polished, it is generally necessary in the re polishing operation to seat the ware at the end of a pipe with molten glass, so that after the fire polishin has been accomplished the article may be cracked 01f the pipe and the rough surfaces ground awa and polished.

In accordance with my present improve ments I propose to construct a lens in such manner that the above, and comparatively expensive, process of mounting the lens in operation may be dispensed with, the us, according to my improvements having a portion enga eable by a suitable tool to support the artic e during the fire olishing operation so that immediately a ter the operation is completed the article may be released without the necessity of rinding and olishing the rough spots suc as remain a ter the article is cracked off the ipe in the fire polishing operation ordinari y utilized and as first above described.

My invention further resides in the con venient location of a foot upon the lens \dapted to be grasped by a tool in the fire polishing operation as just above mentioned, so located that it may increase the light diffusion or form a support having an adjustable light dilfusing member through ad ustment of which the diffusion of the ight may be effectively controlled.

M invention as thus ener lly outlined, will e better understood r01. us following Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

Serial No. 125,175.

description thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a face view of the lens looking at the inner face thereof;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereghrough taken substantially on line 2-2 of fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a face View looking at the outer face of the lens;

Fig. 4 is a side view;

Fig. 5 is an outer face view of a slightly modified form;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the form seen in Fig. 5, partly broken away and'in section;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the adipstable light diffusing shutter, and

ig. 8 is a detail section through a portion of the prismatic area of the-lens.

Referring now to these figures, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, my imroved lens is, as ordinarily, eoncavoconvex 1n shape and indicated at 10, its edge being suitably formed as by means of a flange 11, as seen in dotted lines in- Fig. 4 for connection within automobile lamps o well known construction and type, and the inner surface of which is provide l with a circular plain or unbroken portion centralized therein as indicated 12 and seen particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the remainder of the inner surface of the lens having a plurality of radially extendin and curved ribs 13 around the central p ain portion 12 and constituting the prismatic area which, together with the construction of the lens in certain other respects to be hereinafter described, provides for effective diffusion of the light from the lamp burner in use.

My invention further contemplates the provision of an extended circular foot portion 14 Ce trally of the lens upon its outer face, the diameter of which 18 preferably substantially that of the central plain portion 12 of the inner surface, which latter portion and the said foot portion 14 are coaxial with the lens, so that the foot ortion which, as seen, pro'ects materially eyond the outer surface 0 the lens, may be provided, as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, with ribs 15 or otherwise formed to provide for diffusion of light through the center of the lens. and thus eonstituting a part of the 'HlMllItllt lie litndill'u ing' area of the lens itsell 'l'hus. by the construction described the lens is not only n'oyided with means securing more ell'retiye ditl'usion of: the light, but with a foot portion whereby this is done, which projects beyond the surface of the lens at such. a point as that it may be readily grasped by a tool in the tire polishing operation of the art ielo after the latter is pressed to shape so as to render this operation much quicker and more economical than is at present possible.

It is to be understood that the foot portion 11 is an integral part of the lens and is pressed to shape with the remaining portions of the lens, and that, in addition to its functions above described, it provides for the support; of a metal band 16 therearound, the outer edge of which band pro jects materially beyond the outer fare of the said foot portion, as seen in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, wherein the lens and its foot portion, otherwise similar to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4. inclusive, are indicated at 10 and 14: respectively.

In the last mentioned form of the invention, as seen in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the metal band, 16 supported around the foot portion 14, provides for the use of a hinged cireular frame 17, the hinge of which appears at 18 and a curved slotted arm 19 in which a laterally projecting pin 20 ofthe frame 19 works, so that the frame may be secured in adjusted position by a thumb nut; 21 threaded on the stem 20 to clampingly engage the arm 19. The. frame 17 supports a suitable translm-ent shutter 22 having a prismatic fare. as seen in Figs. 5. ti. and T. and which. when adjusted to the position shown in Fig, t against, the outer fat-oot' the foot )ortion 14 forming light dill'using means .or the foot port ion the same as the prismatic uter surl'are 1;) thereof of l igs. t to 4 inclusive. ()n the other hand. with the shutter 22 in use, and l'itlfl'tl to a -llll2tl)lt angle, more or lt'sH unobstructed rays ol light may pass through the ventral plain portion of the lens.

It is olnious tlml my iuipr yements pro ride an erononiirally superior lens. the dil fusion of he light. through which may be ell'eetirrly tontrolled. and a ventral beam peri-iitted uut'e trirted pas age in i-ertain instant-es without all'erting the normal diffusion of the light in that portion of the prismatic area of the lens ar und its foot poi on.

1. claim:

1. An automobile lens of the character described, having a substantially eonca oconvex body. and a foot portion projecting beyond the outer l'are thereof at its center, and a light diti'using shutter adjustably supported on the said. foot portion whereby to permit of more or less unobstruetml passage of light through the said foot portion.

2. An automobile lens of the character described, having a substantially concavo convex body, a foot portion projecting beyond the outer face thereof at its center. a band around the said foot portion, and a light diffusing shutter adjustably supported 1) the said band at the front ot' the foot. portion to partl or whol y cover the latter.

3. 1\n automol iile lens of the character described, having a substantially concavoconvex body, a foot portion projecting beyond the outer face thereof at its center, a band supported around the foot portion, a light. ditfusing shutter hinged to the said band, and relatively movable means carried by the said band and the said shutter whereby to secure the latter in selected adjustment with respect to the said foot portion.

l. .\n automobile ltlh having a centrally projecting foot; portion. and a light ditiuslug shutter mounted on said foot portion.

illnesses: 

